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According to head coach Ben Olsen, Kitchen was “far-and-away the best player in the draft.” Hyperbole aside, there’s a reason he was a top-3 pick, a reason he was the centerpiece of this past year’s NCAA champions, and a reason almost every pundit figures he’ll compete for a spot with the US national team within the year.

Kitchen, much like Ream last year, has the luxury of walking into a squad that’s in a rebuilding mode. For all of Najar’s attacking heroics, United were the worst team in the league in 2010 and are doing a full-fledged roster overhaul.

Part of that overhaul will likely be pairing Kitchen, a d-mid with great field vision and skill but limited range, with Dax McCarty. McCarty is the prototypical two-way central midfielder. He’ll do the harrying and disruption, covering more ground than any other player in the league, and let Kitchen protect the backline and control the tempo.

Lucky day for DC United. Everything I read on Kitchen is that he is a can't miss superstar in waiting. He has potential to make the trip to Brazil in 2014 according to SBI. The question, as it always is with guys like that, is how long will he stay in MLS. I think he's got a few years in him, but I'm not sure he'll be playing in DC more than three years before making a big money move to Europe.

That's something that makes the Salgado pick so much more questionable. At 17, FIFA rules prevent him from playing in Canada, unless the Whitecaps can get a special dispensation for him as its a dual national league. So if he can't play this season, he'll be a sub/irregular starter next year and starting regularly at 19 the following season and he's probably gone after that. You're basically getting the guy for about a year and a half. At least Kitchen is going to give you three years of regular play.

Charlie Davies to join DC for evaluation, possible loanClub to decide whether US national team striker is game-ready

D.C. United announced on Tuesday that US national team striker Charlie Davies is expected to join the club on a week-long "evaluation" stint, with an eye toward a year-long loan.

Davies, whose contract is held by Sochaux of France’s Ligue 1, is working to return to fitness after more than a year of rehabilitation following a car crash in October 2009.

"Charlie Davies is expected to join D.C. United in Ft. Lauderdale on Wednesday for a week-long evaluation period, which will include training and game time with the first team and a full medical evaluation by team doctors in D.C.," the club said in a statement.

“Details of the 12-month loan have already been negotiated, but nothing will be official until D.C. United is satisfied Charlie is physically capable of playing at the level required to be successful in MLS.”

Less than 18 months after a car wreck nearly claimed his life and ended his career, US international Charlie Davies is trying to get back on track with a week-long training stint with D.C. United. Should things work out for the Sochaux striker, a 12-month loan agreement has already been negotiated and agreed to.

On a Friday afternoon conference call, the 24-year-old expressed his expectations and thrill at playing for United coach Ben Olsen.

“I’d say that it’s a wonderful opportunity for me,” Davies said. “For me to have a coach I had a chance to play with ... he knows what I need to do to get back to that. He’s been there and he’s done it.”

Olsen himself had numerous severe injuries, and had to make a mid-career comeback. The intangibles involved in a long-term rehabiliation seem to be playing a part in Olsen's determination of whether Davies will be a part of the United squad.

“I’ve had the fortune of already knowing [Davies] and knowing some of his intangibles that I love,” Olsen explained. “I don’t have to check those boxes. They’re already checked as far the competitiveness and mentality. His intangibles are good which is why he was so successful and has got him back to where he is now. That side is there. We need to evaluate him as a soccer player now and where he is.”

Davies said a strenuous workout regimen in the months since his injuries—which included a broken tibia and femur as well as bleeding on the brain—has put him in shape close to what he was before the accident.

FORT LAUDERDALE (AP) — Charlie Davies scored in the 41st minute as D.C. United defeated the Canadian under-20 team 5-1 Monday in a preseason scrimmage.

Davies scored the Major League Soccer team's fourth goal following a through-pass from Branko Boskovic. Davies also played a part in the second goal, when his shot off a pass from Dax McCarty was saved by goalkeeper Roberto Stillo, and Joseph Ngwenya scored off the rebound in the eighth minute, the second of his three goals.

Joseph Ngwenya began the scoring in the 33rd minute, receiving a Dax McCarty pass at the edge of the area before turning and firing a shot into Trinidad and Tobago's goal. This 1-0 United advantage lasted until halftime, when Head Coach Ben Olsen made wholesale changes to his team. In the second half Chris Pontius partnered with trialist Charlie Davies up front, and the two forwards combined well to enhance United's offensive production.

In the 68th minute Pontius began a strong run, laying the ball off to Davies in the opposing area. The U.S. National Team forward navigated his way through Trinidad and Tobago's backline, crossing the ball into the 6-yard box to midfielder Kurt Morsink. Morsink converted the pass, giving United a 2-0 lead.

One minute later Davies got on the scoresheet himself, taking a through ball from Pontius and placing a shot at the near post to put the Black-and-Red up 3-0. Davies secured a brace in the 75th minute, this time controlling the ball at the top of the area before running past Trinidad's centerbacks and blasting a shot into the upper corner. With a 4-0 lead, United held possession for the remainder of the contest to ensure a third and final victory this week.

D.C. United acquires forward Charlie Davies24-year-old U.S. National Team striker joins Black-and-Red for 12-month loan deal

Washington, D.C. – D.C. United announced today that the club has acquired forward Charlie Davies. The Black-and-Red have signed the striker to a loan deal from French side FC Sochaux for the 2011 season. The club used its position in the MLS allocation ranking to acquire the forward. United will hold a press conference in the Volkswagen Lounge at RFK Stadium today at 2:00 p.m. to introduce Davies alongside President and CEO Kevin Payne, General Manager Dave Kasper, and Head Coach Ben Olsen. The press conference will be streamed live on dcunited.com.

Onstad is "best option" in DC goal
United asst. to return to nets as Cronin hurt, Hamid recovering

WASHINGTON — With mounting injury concerns in goal, D.C. United announced Thursday night that assistant coach Pat Onstad is coming out of retirement and returning to play for the club.

“Pat is our best option in goal right now for the situation we’re in,” head coach Ben Olsen told DCUnited.com. “Pat is an extremely experienced player that can bring stability to our back line – we are very lucky to have him.”

United find themselves in a bit of a goalkeeping crisis as Steve Cronin, acquired during the offseason in exchange for Troy Perkins, fractured his wrist in training last week and will be out approximately eight to 10 weeks. Youngster Bill Hamid is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and United weren't keen on rushing the former academy player back into the net.

According to a D.C. United spokesman, there are no current plans to invite other 'keepers into camp, and Onstad will immediately begin training with the first team out in California. The length of his return isn’t yet known either.

Washington, D.C. – D.C. United announced today the club has re-acquired midfielder Fred from the New England Revolution in exchange for a natural 2013 SuperDraft 2nd round pick. The 31-year old midfielder returns to the city in which his MLS career began in 2007.
“We are excited that Fred will be back in a United jersey,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “He will make our already deep midfield that much deeper and give us a great attacking player who can create and score goals. Fred was very motivated to return to DC, and we look forward to his contributions.”

Washington, D.C. – D.C. United announced today that recently retired forward Jaime Moreno is set to become the club’s Youth Academy Technical Training Coach. Having played his final match in a storied 15-year tenure with United on October 23, 2010, Moreno will utilize his vast playing experience in the development of future members of the Black-and-Red. In his role with D.C. United Youth Development, Moreno will work closely as an on field technical coach with D.C. United Academy players and coaches. Specifically, Moreno will conduct individualized training programs for the forwards and attacking players of all five Academy teams to maximize their potential.

Davies double starts United season off with a bang
WASHINGTON — Three second-half goals propelled D.C. United to an opening-day victory over the visiting Columbus Crew in front of 18,132 fans at RFK Stadium. Debutant Charlie Davies’ two goals will get the headlines, but fellow newcomer Josh Wolff got the rout started with his first goal in a United uniform.

The lone Crew goal came from a Robbie Rogers penalty kick late in the second half.

Both sides began the game with five new starters compared to 2010, and the evidence of change was prevalent early on, as midfield and attacking exchanges were a bit out of sync.

In Ben Olsen’s first game as permanent head coach of United, his side was aggressive early and had chances to open the scoring. A scintillating Josh Wolff run found Dax McCarty wide open at the top of the box, but he scuffed his shot wide

DC make history as 3 Home Growns see actionAcademy grads Najar, Hamid, White all play at same time vs. LA

WASHINGTON – When Andy Najar entered the game for D.C. United in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy, it marked the first time in league history that three Home Grown players were on the field at the same time for the same team.

Najar lined up alongside goalkeeper Bill Hamid and rookie defender Ethan White against the Galaxy. At one point, the trio played for D.C. United's academy team before signing professional contracts at one point or another over the last two years.

Longtime midfielder Santino Quaranta noted the occasion after the game.

“It’s important,” he said. “It’s something that you put a lot of emphasis on, bringing young guys up and them getting the chance to come along and train with the first team and do that kind of stuff is good.”